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( For retirees of the new Air Canada family)
Number 546 Dec 30th, 2000, We first Published in October 1995
Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson - Co-pilot - Terry Baker
To get in touch with either editor/pilot our email address is
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HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS.
From Vesta and Terry
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We welcome -
Norma E. McFarlane retired Passenger Sales Co-ordinator, YYZ
and living in Perth, ON email:
Ethna Plashkes retired flight attendant email
Ken Meek was in Public Affairs and had responsiblity for the Silver Broom for many
years amongst other programs. Ken's email
William (Bill) Hope retired email
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. Where are they now?
Boeing B737-217 c/n 20196 registered C-FCPV was named by CPAL as
"Empress of Vancouver - Vancouver Expo-86"and has since held a
chequered life being registered as N197JQ, F-WGTP, F-GGTP, TC-REF,
F-GTCA and now, finally, as CF-GWJ owned by WestJet.
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. Found on the internet.
During the Farnborough Air Show this year, the Boeing B-1B Lancer, call sign
Razor One One was scheduled to do a fly past. This is the commentary -
Friday July 28th, 2000
Farnborough ATC: "Razor One One, you are clear for display.
Confirm airfield in sight"
Razor One One: "We have airfield in sight, we are running in"
Farnborough commentator: "Ladies and gentlemen we have a single fly past from
one of the worlds most powerful airborne weapons
systems. We should see her any minute now."
Three minutes later and no sign of the B-1B. Meanwhile, air traffic controllers
at Blackbushe Airport, just a few miles to the west watch speechlessly as the
B-1B roars by at 500 foot with after burners and wings at full sweep.
Sunday July 30th, 2000
Farnborough ATC: "Razor One One you are clear for display. Confirm airfield
in sight."
Razor One One: "Roger, airfield in sight. Running in."
Farnborough commentator: "Ladies and gentlemen we have a single fly past from
one of the worlds most powerful airborne weapons
systems. We should see her any minute now.
Look to your left....".
Overhead Lasham Airfield, several miles from Farnborough, the local glider club
pilot community indulging in their normal Sunday pastime, managed to compose
themselves after realizing that the big black thing which whizzed past them was
not one of their compatriots.
Meanwhile, the crew of the B-1B were debating the wisdom of the Brits in staging
the most important of all global air shows in an area strewn with urban airfields
and centred amid one of the most congested pieces of air space in the world.
Northwest Airlines retired its last Boeing B747-100 reg N601US c/n 25688
on Sept 25th with a sports charter to Phoenix. However this aircraft will not die.
The airline later ferried the aircraft to North Carolina where it will be prepared for
the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington.
US Airways Shuttle retired its last two Boeing B727-200's on Oct 20th and marks
the end of 20 years service. Reg N919TS c/n 20447 and N924TS c/n21041.
Trans World Airlines operated its last Boeing B727-200 on Sept 30th
reg N64339 c/n 20844. Known affectionately as the "pig", by the airlines pilots,
a Pig party (pork sandwiches etc) to mark the event. 36 years is a long time
for one type to be around.
United Airlines retired its last Boeing B747-200 recently. All United's DC10-10
aircraft were retired last October, the last 3 DC10-30's will be gone by summer 2001
SWISSAIR WILL DEFEND STAFF, PROVIDE HANDCUFFS
Swissair has given its flight attendants permission to retaliate against
unruly passengers by tying them up in their seats..
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. Yet more stories about the Vanguard from the eMailNews issued by
Duane Frerichs -
From: TERRY LAKIN <
Perhaps I can step in on the Vanguard discussion. I spent some
four years on the Vanguard that includes a year on the Merchantman,
our freighter version of the aircraft. I wonder if the Tyne problems were
in any way due to the practice we adopted of selecting all the power to
idle then setting the cruise power setting, this was to reduce the load
from the main bearings on the main shaft. We usually did this at the
same time as we made a cabin address and said "we have now reached
the top of our climb and are reducing power for the cruise".
I never heard of a passenger mentioning this.
I do not remember any particular problems with engine un serviceability
although I did have my only experience of a double engine failure
while base training on type between V1 and VR as there was quite a
spread between these two numbers of something like 13 kts but we still
managed to abort the takeoff. It also needed a couple of turns of the
elevator trim to help with the landing flare. The Vanguard also dropped
the right wing at the stall, a manoeuvre we did on an air test and you
had to be ready for it. But it was built like the proverbial brick ***** and
could take a hell of a lot of abuse which we occasionally saw when
training on the type.
All in all the pilots flying the Vanguard got to like the aircraft very much
but then I suppose all pilots usually like the aircraft they are currently
flying.
.... and more!
From: "Ernie MacEachen" <
Re: The Vanguard. Does anybody remember that water would drip
down from just above the windshield, caused by an accumulation of
condensation. Shades of the DC-3's when we all carried the baby sheets
to protect our legs from the water that seeped in when it rained.
(We have been reading some great stories about the Vickers Vanguard, but
what about other aircraft in our fleet;
no stories to tell about those? Lets here from you - eds)
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From: "Bill Norberg" <
Subject: Merry Christmas memories of the North Star.
I have one that I would like to share. It was December 1947 and we had just
received the first few North Stars which were to be used for flight training and
other associated duties. TCA was in the airmail business at the time and it
was a very important source of revenue for the company.
The Christmas mail was backing up and it was decided to use one of the
North Stars to make a mail run to Winnipeg from Montreal. The only problem
was that we were not allowed to use the Janitrol Heaters in the aircraft due to
problems being experienced in the US with the DC-6 aircraft.
Apparently there was a situation where leaking fuel could find its way into the
compartment where the heater was located.
This meant the flight would have to operate unheated. As it was not a revenue
passenger flight it just meant discomfort for any on board the flight. I managed
to get a seat on the flight so I could visit my family in Winnipeg and deliver
some gifts. Captain Ron Baker was in charge and I believe Jack Grisdale was
F/O. We flew at about the 8 to 9000 foot flight level and it was a clear moonlit
night. We all were wearing full winter clothes and we still found it to be very cold.
The return flight was just as cold but terminated in YYZ so I had to find my
way back to YUL via DC-3. On the return flight there were three of us plussing
and we spent the whole flight in the lounge area of the rear washroom with the
door closed. We did this to conserve what little body heat we were able to
generate by sitting closely together and with a little help from a bottle of Seagrams.
The trip was a success and it was an experience I will never forget.
Take care and be well. Sincerely Bill Norberg
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. Those of you who have the Flight Simulator-98 or 2000 software may know of
the software available from www.justflight.com - if not, check it out!
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. Terry's travel tips.
Sydney/Auckland Combo with Positive Space Air from $1179*
Round trip positive space air on Air New Zealand from LAX to Sydney,
Sydney to Auckland and return (or from Auckland to Sydney)
6 nights first class hotel accommodations, 3 nights in Sydney,
3 nights in Auckland, hotel taxes and service charges
Optional tours and transfers available
Sydney Explorer from $1148*
Round trip positive space air on Air New Zealand, 4 nights accommodations, transfers,
Tours of Sydney, luncheon cruise on Sydney Harbour, full day of Blue Mountains
and Jamison Valley, hotel taxes and service charges.
Costa Rica City and Beach Combo 5 Nights/ 6 Days from $429*
Round trip space available air from Miami or Los Angeles (with supplement),
2 nights hotel accommodations in San Jose, 3 nights resort accommodations on
Jaco Beach, hotel taxes and service charges.
Costa Rica Great Escape 5 Nights/ 6 Days
All Inclusive Two nights in San Jose, at the San Jose Palacio, a luxury all inclusive hotel located
in a prestigious area, three nights at the exclusive Playa Tambor located on Tambor s 4 mile
sandy beach surrounded by gorgeous landscaped gardens. Perfect for nature lovers a real getaway.
Also includes round trip space available air, 3 day car rental, hotel taxes and service charges.
Confirmed air available with no eligibility requirements.
Costa Rica City and Jungle Combo 5 Nights/ 6 Days from $699*
Two nights in an all inclusive Jungle Lodge located near the Caribbean coast, transfer by bus and
boat from San Jose, three nights in San Jose with breakfast daily, plus the full day Highlight
Tour including breakfast at a mountain lodge, stop at coffee fields, Poas Volcano and cloud
forest visit, stop at waterfalls and hummingbird gallery, lunch and free time at a rain forest lodge,
1.5 hour Jungle River Safari (see monkeys, iguanas, crocodiles and more) Braulio Carrillo
National Park and all at a relaxing leisurely pace.
Round trip space available air, all hotel taxes and service charges included!
This is an unbelievable deal!
Tuscany Wine and Cuisine Tour 8 Nights/ 10 Days Confirmed Air Companions Eligible! $1849*
Round trip confirmed air from US, 8 nights accommodation at superior hotel,
breakfast and dinner daily, 5 lunches
Cooking lessons in historic villas, visits to local wineries, excursion to Pisa, Siena and
San Gimignano, half day sightseeing tour os Florence, transfers, hotel taxes and service
charges, services of tour manager throughout. Call today!! Departs US March 19
Taste of Italy Departs March 3 from $1299*
Round trip confirmed space air from Boston or New York to Venice, 2 nights in Venice
first class hotel, 3 nights Florence first class hotel, 3 nights in Rome, first class hotel, all transfers,
breakfast daily, 4 dinners, ½ day sightseeing tours of each city and motor coach tour through
Tuscany, Bologna, San Gimignano and more.
London with confirmed air! 3 Nights/ 5 Days Companions Eligible! from $559*
Paris with confirmed air! 3 Nights/ 5 Days Companions Eligible!from $489*
All prices us$ ddbl call 800 422 3727 for more info
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. Smilie.
THE WIDTH AND LENGTH WERE IN PROPORTION:
We can smile about it now, but imagine their surprise recently when a DC-8 crew discovered they had touched down on a 4,800-by-75-foot runway instead of the
11,800-by-300- foot runway they were expecting.
The cargo plane stopped safely with a few hundred feet to spare at
Losco County Airport in East Tawas, Mich., but it was aiming for the former
Wurtsmith Air Force Base nine miles to the north, where it was being ferried for
maintenance. The DC-8 was towed back onto the runway, and made a
successful takeoff with a 10-knot headwind.
Thieves shut down the airport at Shantou in China this autumn when they
made off with 69 landing lights from one of the runways. It took 12 hours and
us$15,000 to replace and repair the lighting system.
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. DID YOU KNOW?
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